17th april,2015 daily global rice e newsletter by riceplus magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Rice E-Newsletter April 17 , 2015 V o l u m e 5, Issue I

Russian Supply Drives Down Rice Prices Lee Sang Yong | 2015-04-17 13:04

Rice prices in North Korea’s North Hamkyung and Yangkang Provinces have dropped despite general stability in market prices around the country. This is largely due to an influx of rice from Russia, offsetting regular price increases that come during the spring when grains fall short in supply.―Rice sold for about 5,000 KPW [0.63 USD] per kg in Onsong County at the beginning of March, but recently that

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine has dipped to about 4,200 KPW [0.53 USD],‖ a source in North Hamkyung Province told Daily NK on Wednesday. A source in Yangkang province confirmed a similar trend, saying, ―The price of rice has been continually dropping in Hyesan Market, recently falling to the 4,000 KPW [0.5 USD] mark. ‖ Public demand for rice usually surges in April, and expectations were the cost would jump due to a clampdown on border movements this month that would block smuggled supplies. However, the supply from Russia has reversed these projections, multiple sources confirmed. ―Ships that can hold over 10,000 tons are carrying in wheat or rice from Russia through the harbors of Chongjin and Rasun,‖ the North Hamkyung source said. ―These grains go to the military first, but then are flowing into the markets through back channels.‖ He added that the North has been emphasizing relations with Russia more than with China this year, spurring a surge in trade as well as the dispatch of more workers to Russia to pull in foreign currency.

This same source also reported multiple sightings --not only by him but but a host of residents--of shipments of oil and grains coming into the North from Russia. Fluctuations in rice prices have not yet been confirmed in provinces other than the two cited above. Markets in Pyongyang and North Pyongan Province’s Sinuiju have held rice prices at the 5,000 KPW [0.63 USD] level as of mid-April, according to research by Daily NK. This is likely due to the added time it takes to transport rice to the inner areas of the country from the borders. Both sources blamed power shortages for the delay, exacerbated by state crackdowns preventing traveling peddlers selling goods out of their trucks from entering the markets to do business. While this has contributed to the sluggish supply inland in the very short-term, prices are expected to level out soon.

Lacassine facility shipping IP rice to Mexico Apr 17, 2015Farm Press Staff

Export customers are asking for identity preserved rice from coastal growers and a new rail facility in Lacassine, La., is helping fill that demand.

Rice farmers Wynn and Glen Watkins and Bill Wild head back to the farm after another full trainload of rice left the South Louisiana Rail Facility.

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It is late January, a time when many farmers are thinking about crop selection for the spring.But in Lacassine, La., longtime farmers Bill and Tim Wild and Glen and Wynn Watkins are busy delivering trucks of paddy rice to the South Louisiana Rail Facility (SLRF). The rice is railed that same week as part of a 50-car order bound for some of the largest rice customers in Mexico.The Wild and Watkins brothers are all members of the SLRF, a limited liability corporation operated cooperatively by local farmers.Five years ago, the area’s rice farmers were www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

concerned about the limited options for marketing their crop.―In South Louisiana, we are really limited to growing rice due to the soil and weather,‖ Bill Wild said. ―Hearing about an abandoned sugar factory with two rail spurs less than a mile off the mainline held the answer.‖It took the vision of a handful of farmers, the teamwork of 150 local rice producer-members and several related agri-businesses to transform an abandoned factory into the state-of-the-art rice facility it is today. The facility includes four 40,000-bushel storage units and a computerized conveyer and elevator system that can load an 80-ton railcar in just 10 minutes.The terminal is centrally located with more than 200 rice farms within an hour’s drive of the depot.―Farmer’s like the fact that they can drop off up to six truckloads per day, whereas some mills only allow two trucks a day,‖ Glen Watkins says. ―And best of all is the price. Today, we’re getting a premium for our identity-preserved paddy rice of 86 cents per hundredweight.‖Among SLRF’s investors is RiceTec, Inc., which commercializes hybrid rice seed. The company has also been active in finding additional markets for coastal rice producers.―Any market for rice that we can develop is good for the farmer and good for the local economy,‖ says Cullen Minter, regional manager for RiceTec Inc. Each investor contributed $5,000 to develop the facility, which then drew support and funding from the Louisiana Agricultural Financial Authority, led by Commissioner Mike Strain.

The facility is in its third year of operation and growing rapidly.―Today, the demand is there for all we can sell,‖ said Mark Pousson, who oversees the rail facility. ―They love our rice in

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Mexico.‖Pousson said several factors make the facility’s rice marketable in Mexico. Including speed of delivery. ―Turnaround time is essential for keeping up with demand, and this place is built for speed. Rice being delivered to the facility today can be loaded and delivered to Mexico City in just 10 to 12 days.‖ But what their customers like most is the rice itself. ―Our buyers appreciate the quality and consistency of the paddy rice,‖ Pousson said.

Identity preservation is a key to that quality. ―Since most growers in the area have their own drying equipment, we can get the paddy rice directly from each of them, so there is no comingling. And while we pay a premium for that IP rice, we can still provide it at a very competitive price to Mexico.‖―It is one variety, all the way from the farm to railcar to the mills in Mexico. We ship mostly hybrids, either Clearfield XL729 or XL745.

By identity preserving it, the rice ends up having the same milling and cooking characteristics. It mills more evenly and will cook properly since the finished product is all the same,‖ said Winn Watkins.There are other reasons to grow hybrids, according to Tim Wild. ―It’s not just the extra yield, but their disease package, potential for a ratoon crop and suitability for raising crawfish.

We can cut another 25 bushels then turn around in time to get a crawfish crop.‖Pousson sees an opportunity to expand beyond local farmers.―Ultimately, we would like to purchase rice from other mills as our export market continues to expand. We are interested in both hybrids and varieties. We have one customer in Mexico who only wants variety rice with very specific quality parameters. In fact, we will soon be sharing samples of a new pure line variety that RiceTec is developing.‖ http://deltafarmpress.com/rice/lacassine-facility-shipping-ip-rice-mexico?utm_source=USA+Rice+Daily%2C+April+16%2C+2015&utm_campaign=Friday%2C+December+13%2C+2013&utm_medium=email

PhilRice Rice New technologies up at PhilRice

Close to 4,000 farmers were updated with the latest technologies through the Lakbay-Palay conducted at the Philippine Rice Research Institute in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, April 14-15. Celia Abadilla, activity lead coordinator, said that FutureRice Farm, breeder seed production, and on-farm learning center were among the stations where visiting farmers, mostly from the country’s rice granary, learned new technologies. Promoting technologies that are clean, green, practical, and smart, the FutureRice Farm the solar panel, mechanically transplanted rice, reduced ti llage technology, and Korean and traditional varieties. Abadilla said that the farm also featured organic farming, nutrient recycling, use of alternative energy, and farm mechanization.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine ―Most farmers inquire about the seeds that they can plant the next season. So in the breeder seed production area, modern rice varieties were planted for farmers to select the varieties most suited to their field. They also saw the result of planting certified seeds,‖ Abadilla said. Farmers were taught on how to use the ICT-based fertilizer guides such as Rice Crop Manager and MOET (Minus-One Element Technique) Application. Rice Crop Manager, which data underwent 15 years of intensive research across the country, provides specific amount of fertilizer and its time of application while MOET app can diagnose nutrient deficiencies of the rice crop. The two-day activity is held bi-annually usually during harvest season.

New breed of extensionists graduate Better extension service can be expected from the pilot batch of 25 Luzon agricultural technologists and development officers who completed a 5-month training at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), April 17. Titled Enabling the AgRiDOC: A new breed of rice extensionists, the course did not only prime the pilot batch of AgRiDOCs or Agricultural Development Officers of the Community as transmitters of technologies from research centers but as catalysts of farm community transformation. The training program is a major component of the project Improving Technology Promotion and Delivery through Capability Enhancement of Next-Gen Rice Extension Professionals and Other Intermediaries (IPaD).

Dr. Karen Eloisa T. Barroga, project leader of IPaD, explained that an AgRiDOC has a broader and more active role in the development process, a renewed capacity and attitude in performing their usual roles, and a new set of knowledge and skills to deal with current and future challenges in agriculture. ―When they return to their offices and communities, we expect them to initiate projects that will make rice farming communities competitive, sustainable, and resilient. That is why, we have extended their knowledge on mainly rice to rice-based farming systems, with an entrepreneurial mindset,‖ Barroga, a chief science research specialist at PhilRice, said.

Conducted at the PhilRice Central Experiment Station from Nov 19, 2014, the training was one of the steps being taken to help strengthen the rice extension system. A second batch of trainees from Visayas and Mindanao will start its program in June 2015. Regular course offering is expected to start in 2016 and will target from five to seven AgRiDOCs in the major rice producing provinces. The training program is funded by the DA-National Rice Program through the Bureau of Agricultural Research, and is being implemented by the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the Agricultural Training Institute, and the International Rice Research Institute. IPaD is a project under the Food Staples Sufficiency Program.

PH’s first Rice Agritourism being developed Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija – The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), through its FutureRice Program, is tapping the potential of agricultural attractions in developing the country’s first Rice Agritourism showcasing conventional and practical cutting edge technologies on rice farming.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine In the recent Lakbay Palay on April 14-15, farmers learned about the technologies used in the FutureRice farm such as nutrient diagnostic tools including the Minus One Element Technique (MOET) calculator and Rice Crop Manager App; machines and monitoring systems such as Field Water Monitoring and Control System (FWMCS) and Automated Field Monitoring Station (AFMS). The site also uses clean and renewable energy including the solar-powered water pump and biogas digester that provides alternative fuel from animal wastes.

The farm also showcases hybrid rice varieties such as Mestiso 19 and 20, rarely seen collection of traditional varieties, aromatic rice, submergence tolerant varieties, farmers' varieties called 'double diamond,' and Korean varieties. Vegetables are also grown in land and in floating gardens. ―Our objective is to prepare the Filipino farmers and extension workers for the future rice farming scenarios and train them on clean, green, practical, and smart rice farming,‖ said Roger F. Barroga, FutureRice program leader.

The 5-ha farm site provides education, exposure, and experience to rice farmers and extension workers through training, site visits, and agricultural events. ―This year, in cooperation with the Project IPaD (Improving Technology Promotion and Delivery through Capability Enhancement of Next-Gen Rice Extension Professionals and Other Intermediaries), we developed a portion of the farm as a rice boot camp and hosted the season-long training of 25 AgRiDoc or the new breed of extension workers. The rice boot camp included plots for rice production,‖ Barroga added.

Although visitors have to travel three to five hours from Metro Manila, Barroga said they will be relaxed with agricultural adventures such as rice planting, harvesting, and recreational activities such as boating, fishing, and kayaking. To get a different ―rice experience,‖ visitors may contact PhilRice Visitors and Conference Services Office (VCSO) for tour schedules and reservations (044) 456-0258 local 526/527 or email prri.mail@philrice.gov.ph.

Kayaking near the rice field. Visitors of PhilRice experience kayaking – one of the recreational activities offered by FutureRice farm. The site also provides education, exposure, and experience to rice farmers and extension workers through trainings, site visits, and agricultural events.

APEDA NEWS

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

International Benchmark Price Price on: 16-04-2015

Product

Benchmark Indicators Name

Price

1

Chinese first grade granules, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2100

2

Chinese Grade A dehydrated flakes, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

2000

3

Chinese powdered, CFR NW Europe (USD/t)

1800

1

Chinese sliced, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

4600

2

Chinese whole, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

5100

3

Indian Cochin, CIF NW Europe (USD/t)

3000

1

Indian 100 mesh 3500 cps, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

4320

2

Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps basis, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

1740

3

Indian 200 mesh 3500 cps technical grade, FOB Kandla (USD/t)

3775

Garlic

Ginger

Guar Gum Powder

Source:agra-net

For more info

Market Watch Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 16-04-2015 Domestic Prices Product

Unit Price : Rs per Qty

Market Center

Variety

Min Price

Max Price

1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1205

1205

2

Deoli (Rajasthan)

Other

1050

1120

3

Satna (Madhya Pradesh)

Other

1021

1150

Barley (Jau)

Maize

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 1

Amirgadh (Gujarat)

Other

1300

1300

2

Hanagal (Karnataka )

Local

1180

1240

3

Deoli(Rajasthan)

Other

1200

1500

1

Harippad (Kerala)

Other

3000

4000

2

Sirhind(Punjab)

Other

2500

4000

3

Barara(Haryana)

Other

2800

3000

1

Surat (Gujarat)

Other

1000

1200

2

Aroor (Kerala)

Other

3200

3400

3

Nilagiri(Orissa)

Other

1700

1900

Orange

Carrot

Source:agra-net

For more info

Egg

Rs per 100 No Price on 16-04-2015 Product

Market Center

Price

1

Ahmedabad

265

2

Chittoor

263

3

Hyderabad

228

Source: e2necc.com

Other International Prices

Unit Price : US$ per package Price on 15-04-2015

Product

Market Center

Origin

Variety

Low

Package: 40 lb cartons

Onions Dry 1

High

Atlanta

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Georgia

Yellow

Page 8

27

27

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine 2

Baltimore

3

Detroit

Texas Mexico

Yellow

22

23

Yellow

16.50

18.50 Package: cartons film wrapped

Cucumbers 1 2 3

Atlanta

Miami New York

Canada Honduras Florida

8.50

9.50

Long Seedless

10

10.50

Long Seedless

8

8

Long Seedless

Package: 18 lb containers bagged

Grapes 1

Atlanta

2

Baltimore

3

Chicago

Chile Peru Chile

21.50

23.50

Red Globe

22

22

Red Globe

24.50

24.50

Red Globe

Source:USDA

USA Rice: Think Rice consumer marketing campaign Apr 16, 2015Delta Farm Press

USA Rice has taken the first step in launching its new consumer marketing campaign, Think Rice, by updating its social media handles and profile icons on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.Think Rice is the new face of domestic promotion programs and USA Rice consumer marketing initiatives.―From the focus groups we conducted last year, we learned that the USA Rice logo does not resonant with the average consumer,‖ said Katie Maher, manager domestic promotion programs. ―While the logo is great for our communications with members of Congress and government agencies, it does not clearly convey the messages we want to send to consumers.

‖Maher said U.S.-grown rice is in a position to benefit from the trends that are driving consumer food decisions, and the catchy mantra and fun graphic can help.―Think Rice is a compelling callto-action that will resonate with a broad demographic and strongly position rice as healthy, versatile, safe, sustainable, and locally-grown food choice,‖ she added.―We’ve noticed that today’s chefs, health professionals, retailers, and consumers are all interested in the same types of information,‖ said Maher. ―So, we saw an opportunity to revive domestic promotion messaging with Think Rice; we can use this theme across program platforms to leave a lasting impression on Americans and support our goal of creating awareness for U.S.-grown rice.‖ www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Think Rice will make its culinary debut at the Worlds of Flavor conference, hosted by the Culinary Institute of America. Conference signage and an ad in the program will feature the new logo. In the coming months, Think Rice will be seen on the USA Rice website, in educational materials, promotional items, informational videos, advertising, and more.

EAFF moves to remove cross-border trade bottlenecks within EAC.

BY STEPHEN MUCHIRI

17th April 2015 Stephen Muchiri, CEO Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) The Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) wants bottlenecks derailing cross-border trade across within the East Africa Community, EAC, be cleared for the benefit of farmers.To get acquainted with happenings at the border, in early March, 2015, visited the Kenya-Uganda border at Busia and Tanzania-Kenya border at Namanga.Led by the EAFF President, Philip Kiriro and the CEO Stephen Muchiri, under the Farm Trade project, which is funded by USAID, the team during the mission visited the Plant health Inspectorate service, the bureau of standards (Tanzania food and drug authority in Tanzania), the national Bio Safety Authority and the Customs department.

Despite the inadequate personnel manning the borders, the team noted that the officials at the border points tasked with facilitating trade and ensuring adherence to sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements as well as the standards as agreed through regional and international protocols signed and ratified by the EAC states, are aware of their mandate.Export and import procedures Encouragingly, the team noted that the procedures for exports are very straight www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine forward, an illusion which many farmers had to clear owing to mis-information about the possible stringent requirements and procedures.

For exports and imports to happen, the group learned, traders need to have an import or an export permit, a plant health inspectorate certificate certifying that the product met the requirements of the importing country, and the bureau of standards certificate especially processed and manufactured goods. The border process are managed by certified clearing and forwarding agents as they are well aware of the border procedures, any products originating from the EAC needed an EAC certificate of origin as they were exempt from duty. Or grains there was need to provide a fumigation certificate, for seeds an ISTA certificate is needed, for pesticides and fertilizers, a certificate of conformity to country of import is required. All these documents are either issued at the country's capital city, nearest town to the border or at the border depending on the commodity.

One stop border posts EAC countries are set to have time taken to clear commodities at the border reduced drastically when infrastructure for one border posts are completed. This move, which is expected to ease trade within the region a great deal, will come complete with laboratory facilities, incinerators, portable scanners to scan trucks, animal holding facilities and a police post. Interestingly, the Plant health, bureau of standards, biosafety authority, police, port health and customs officials from the border countries, shall under take joint inspections to reduce clearance time. Notably, the inspections shall be done only once at the port of import side. Observations madeIt was very clear that there are challenges at the borders with respect to inspections (physical and analytical verifications) – to this regard the group noted that some of the reference material used for sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards are either completely missing (the booklets are not available) or are out dated (1960s reference book are still in existence).

There was severe shortage of human resources, up to 3 persons per office are too low especially in reference to amount of trade in observed in the 3 border posts; there was no equipment; lab or otherwise to test for aflatoxin – Kenya imported a lot of maize and gorund nuts which are susceptible to aflatoxin; there was no equipment; lab or otherwise to screen for GMO material – Kenya imports a lot of maize from southern Africa countries that comes by road. We have GMOs in south Africa hence it could find its way to East Africa, yet some of the countries in this region don’t even have biosafety policies.

The one stop border posts are at an advanced stage in the 3 border points, this will definitely ease clearance at the borders; all agricultural commodities within the EAC attracts zero duty; the commodity has to be accompanied by an EAC rules of origin certificate to ascertain this.On the www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Busia border, a bulking centre 1 km from the border where small traders and middlemen bulk their purchases for buyers from Kenya to purchase. This bulking centre is disorganised and not well constructed, lacks clean hygienic storage facilities and is a source of contamination.

No storage facilities at the border in form of dry ports; warehouses among others.There is no harmonised packaging of maize – the gazetted weights in Kenya are 50kg and Uganda is 100kg.

There is need for farmers or exporters to get acquainted with border procedures. Most of the documentation is similar but the costs vary from country to country.All goods worth more less than USD 2000 fall within the simplified Trade regime and do not need elaborate documentation.

This regime is favourable for small traders and farmers; majority of whom are not aware.In the Busia border, it was reported that there are numerous ungazetted routes hence a lot of smuggling, especially at Mariachi and Sophia points, these need to be addressed to reduce on the rampant smuggling.

The team noted many individuals on bicycles and wheel- chairs smuggling commodities across the border.The use of standard marks is low in agriculture commodities due to queries on uniformity; adherance to standards and quality assurance. The team was informed that it is possible for farmers co-operative to seek for special permits from the Government of Uganda to be able to trade across borders with waivers from certain requirements.On the Tanzania border, the group was informed that for the first time traders who are unaware of cross border procedures especially for documentation that needs to be collected from the city or towns near the border, the border officials can provide such documents on a limited release at the border, and even to some extent waive any certification charges in case the trader was not ready to pay; but only for a first timer.

It was observed that rice from Kenya attracts 75 percent duty to other EAC countries while they could sell to Kenya at 0% duty. It was explained that the CET for rice is 75 percent but Kenya requested for a concession due to its trade with Pakistan (who buy a lot of tea from Kenya for purpose of balance of trade).And was allowed to import at 35 percent duty on Pakistan rice (note that Kenya imports 74 percent of her rice); however un-scrupulous traders import this rice and have invested in storage in rice growing areas of Kenya where they mixed this rice with local rice and re-exported it to out neighbours initially at 0 percent. Tanzania and Uganda complained to EAC with credible evidence of this happening and thus Kenya was slapped with a 75 percent export duty to EAC, this has meant that good quality pishori rice is un-competitive in the region due to the work of un-scrupulous traders.

Challenges reported by border officials www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Lack of facilities to test grains for moisture ( no moisture meters); the porosity of the borders; poor enforcement of policies (standards; customs); political interference – many politicians working in cahoots with business men/ women used their influence to have commodities cross the border without verification or with no interceptions.Hostility from locals especially those using smuggling routes; high level corruption; personal security of border officers is a serious concern as many live under constant threat from traders; small traders and transporters don’t obey the simplified trade regime; the single window system is slow as it requires a lot of detail to fill in and being web based – with connectivity issues it delays clearance.

Flow of information is a big challenge as there are limited channels of communicating border procedures to stake holders and how regulatory authorities operate.Products crossing at night easily cross without proper inspection; high level forgery of documents .

Challenges on cross border traders Lack of documentation (un aware of requirements), many cross border actors are unaware of the domestic, regional and international customs laws and market price fluctuation – we realised that at the border the price of maize ranged from 12-14 ksh per kilo from both Uganda and Tanzania whilst the Kenya government was offering 23shs per kilo.Slow clearance process especially the systems for customs. This delay in payment process aggrieves some traders; the customs systems also need to be harmonized so that they have mutual recognition.Delays in lab tests as they have to be dispatched to national labs and lack of formal bulking facilities.

Commodities traded From all the border points, Kenya was viewed as the main importer of Agriculture commodities (raw) and exporter of processed commodities. We had more agriculture commodities getting through the border into Kenya than leaving; presumptively it meant that the export bans had been lifted which is a good sign.

Governor, Ministers hail University for bagging Rice Research Performance Award Friday, 17 04 2015 09:46 28th SKUAST-K University Council meeting held JAMMU, APRIL 16:Chairing the 28th University Council meeting of SKUAST-K, held here at the Raj Bhavan, Governor, N.N. Vohra, Chancellor of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), has called for a campaign approach to rejuvenate senile orchards in the Valley. He also emphasized the need for strict check to ensure against the sale of spurious pesticides and insecticides in the State.The Governor; Ghulam Nabi Lone, Minister for Agriculture; Bali Bhagat, Minister for Social Welfare, Forests, Ecology and Environment; Sajad Gani Lone, Minister for

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Science & Technology and Animal Husbandry complimented the University for bagging the Rice Research Performance Award for Rice Research Station, Khudwani.

The Governor also recorded appreciation of the VC’s initiative to raise voluntary donations and providing valuable relief to its flood affected employees and students.The Governor called for the time bound completion of acquisition proceedings for acquiring a pocket of land in the Main Campus of the University at Shalimar, Srinagar. He emphasized the need for providing more funds to the University for completion of infrastructural projects and purchase of the required high tech equipments for undertaking quality research.The Governor, along with the Ministers, released three Policy Research Papers brought out by the University and stressed the need for vocational and skill oriented courses being commenced very early for encouraging entrepreneurship.The Council approved amendment in University Statutes in line with ―Model Act for Agricultural Universities in India (revised 2009) of ICAR‖ and the reconstitution of Division of Floriculture and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and change of nomenclature of the Division.

The Council also approved holding of Convocation later this year, which could not be held in 2014 due to the floods during September, 2014.Dr. Trag, VC, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipore, stressed the need for ensuring sufficient seed availability, providing of poly panels in every tehsil and proactive measures to prevent occurrence of Rice Blast in the Valley in the post flood growing season.Dr. Tej Partap, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, made a detailed presentation on the various initiatives which had been undertaken by the University in the recent past. He highlighted the academic achievements and informed the Council about the accomplishments secured in improving capacities and infrastructure development under Special Grant from ICAR at various stations, including at Zanskar, Nyoma and Leh Research Stations.

He also highlighted that as a result of the technological interventions made and the extension services provided by the Farm University, the farmers in Leh, Zanskar Valley, and Changthang have taken to cultivation of off-season vegetables and fodder crops. The application of advanced technology has enabled the growers to supply fresh vegetables to markets in Leh during winter months and also earn good profits.Among those who attend ed the meeting were Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-Jammu; P.K. Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor; Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Production; Rafi Ahmad Indrabi, Director Codes, Finance Department and Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad, Registrar, SKUAST- K. http://www.dailykashmirimages.com/news-governor-ministers-hail-university-for-bagging-rice-researchperformance-award-76743.aspx#sthash.Th79pe2b.dpuf

Best Foods Ltd. Launches 'I Love Best Rice', an Informative Campaign to Dispel Myths Around Rice NEW DELHI, April 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Renowned Nutritionist Ms. Kavita Devgan Speaks About the Myths Which Came Out Through an Acclaimed Research by the TNS Global Research Company www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Life on the fast track, chasing deadlines, sedentary lifestyle and especially food that are stripped of fiber, there has been considerable debate on key parameters - nutrition, easy-to-cook and convenient to carry. Since rice is our staple food, its implications have been generating a lot of buzz such as - its consumption quantity, quality, nutritious content etc. The goodness of rice as a staple food is seldom challenged and yet a lot of substantiation through research needs to be conveyed to consumers to position rice as food that is loved, enjoyed and relished!

Riding this wave, Best Foods Ltd., one of the leading premium basmati rice companies in India, today hosted an interactive session in New Delhi with reputed nutritionist Ms. Kavita Devgan to dispel glaring myths on rice through an innovative campaign 'I love best rice'. A similar initiative was successfully hosted in Kolkata and Hyderabad recently with renowned nutritionist Hena Nafis and Dr. Janki B. The campaign which is being planned across key metros in India, is supported by the research findings of the renowned TNS Global Research Consultancy, India's top research agency which had collated critical data from consumers in key metros on a host of parameters - perception, preference, purchase and price et al to understand the beliefs and attitude towards rice as a category.Embarking on the new initiative - 'I love best rice', Dr. Aayushman Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Best Foods Ltd., remarked, "We at Best strongly feel that white rice is a benign fuel source for the body. Hence, it is imperative that we would need to play a pivotal role in addressing this issue to consumers at large who are grappling with the 'goodness' of rice at some point of the other.

The objective was to bring focus to the category yet again and share some interesting facts on rice to consumers and make them fans of rice. Hence, we commissioned TNS, which has most comprehensively and extensively covered all issues pertaining to rice on various parameters to provide an insight into this category."Detailing further, Dr. Gupta elaborated, "As thought leaders, Best Foods has been providing insightful information about the category and the brand with a view to engage consumers more holistically. Promoting guilt free consumption of rice and the love for rice, informing consumers of the health and nutritive benefits of rice has been a passion for us.

Hailed now as the ICF certified (accredited by the Apex body of Indian's most renowned Chefs) as best rice brand in the category, we have been setting new milestones. I am confident that these research findings can now assure and motivate consumers to look at rice as not only healthy but more innovatively, and incorporate more homogeneously in their diet. White rice is an ancient traditional food and is always hailed as a healthy food. Life on the fast track leaves no time on hand to innovate on foods. Hence, we want consumers to explore the versatility of rice as much as they can, and incorporate it in all possible ways - as a complete meal, quick snack or an innovative mouth-watering recipe!

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine This campaign is close to my heart and I strongly feel that we will be able to build a huge connect and engage consumers with our brand and category."Speaking on behalf ofTNS Global Research Consultancy, Ms. Ruchita Jain, Associate Project Director, said, "The rice category has a huge potential and hence we had taken minute details on consumer perceptions and apprehensions. The research was concluded in a span of 2-3 months. First, a qualitative research was conducted covering men and women groups across key metros, followed by a quantitative research covering a sample of 1330 women across Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai,Bangalore and Hyderabad.

These women were married in the age-group of 25-45 years, totally involved in cooking. They fell under socio-economic classes A or B and were all non-rejecters of modern trade. Having conducted a research, both intensive and with all target groups who consume and cook rice, we were able to put together all data." Nutritionist Ms. Kavita Devgan on her engagement with Best Foods Rice, added, "Rice is a grain we have been eating for-ever; it is eaten across the length and breadth of the country and is relished in multiple forms.

Lately though, an unwarranted guilt factor seems to have creeped in, under the mistaken belief that rice is unhealthy, and that it is fattening. The main aim of this discussion today was to dispel the myths that have been floating around about rice, and pass on the right information to the media who attended, as we believe that they are the influencers who in turn will actually take the facts to general public. It was an effective and an interactive session where the message that this universal loved grain is not just an extremely convenient staple, but also a healthy one got relayed effectively. The bottom line is that you can eat it without guilt because it is good for you." Enjoy and say I love Best rice!

About Best Foods Ltd. Best Foods Limited currently is one of the fastest growing and amongst the largest rice companies in India. The infrastructure of the company includes 17 modern rice mills fully equipped with latest & advanced technology machines with an installed capacity to produce/process 45000 metric tons of processed rice per month.

Best Foods has been awarded the APEDA Golden Trophy for being the largest exporter of Basmati Rice in the year 2010-11 and is a proud recipient of APEDA Silver Trophy for the 2nd highest export for the fiscal 2007-08, 2008-2009 and 2009-10. It also enjoys the status of being a Star Export House and having all necessary certifications such as 'ISO 22000:2005' & HACCP Certification & Kosher certification in place.

Best Foods has got the most coveted accreditation from the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF), India's leading association of professional chefs for the most trusted brands on a host of parameters such as excellent quality, length of grain, delightful aroma and unmatched www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine packaging.The company brings to the consumers the finest Basmati rice of unmatched quality sourced straight from the foothills of Himalayas and other prime rice growing areas in India.

Besides rice, the company also offers health and wellness products along with a lip-smacking range of Best ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook including meals, pastes and sauces. The brand has diversified to become an integrated player of rice, health and wellness products, ready to eat meals and sauces.

In India, Best Foods is amongst the most penetrated brands available in more than 2000 modern retail format (MRF) outlets spread across India in 200+ cities. In addition to this, the company has 38 exclusive brand outlets across high footfall areas inDelhi/NCR. Internationally, Best Foods products have been widely appreciated in major overseas countries located in AsiaPacific, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Europe & North America.

Please visit our website http://www.bestfoodgroup.com Media Contact: Mr. Ayush Mathur ayush@del.madisonindia.com +91-9871031903 Madison PR SOURCE Best Foods Ltd

Global rice output seen recovering in 2015 Ronnel W. Domingo Philippine Daily Inquirer 5:44 AM | Friday, April 17th, 2015

MANILA, Philippines–Global rice output is expected to recover in 2015 after a slight contraction in 2014, despite sliding prices and lower orders from exporters including the Philippines.According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, palay production is seen bouncing back by 1 percent to 750 million tons worldwide this year.The United Nations agency estimates that, in 2014, palay output shrank by 0.5 percent to 741.3 million tons. The contraction followed several years of bumper harvests.―While nature was chiefly behind the lack of last season’s growth, a prolonged period of falling prices also played a role,‖ FAO assistant director general Hiroyuki Konuma said in a statement.In particular, less-than-expected rains from last year’s monsoon season dampened production in India, one of the world’s biggest exporters of rice.

Based on the FAO’s Rice Price Index, international prices have fallen steadily since September 2014 and settled at a four-and-a-half year low of 219 points last March. The index is pegged at prices that prevailed from 2002 to 2004.―Such low prices are encouraging several governments, especially in exporting countries, to engage in less supportive production policies and to pay more attention to other considerations, such as the negative environment impacts of rice

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine cultivation, and the heavy budgetary implications of holding bulging public stocks,‖ Konuma said.

He added that this change in policy, which meant constant or lower prices as well as more stringent limits on rice cultivation, partly explained the modest pace of production growth forecast for 2015. http://business.inquirer.net/190297/global-rice-output-seen-recovering-in-2015#ixzz3XeYzQVYK

FAO tips Thailand to regain status as No-1 rice exporter The Nation April 17, 2015 1:00 am Following years of bumper harvests, worldwide rice production last year experienced its first annual contraction since 2009, while global prices for the grain remain soft, according to the first rice market report of 2015, published by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation.The FAO has lowered its 2014 estimated global paddy production by 3.3 million tonnes since December, to 741.3 million tonnes (494.4 million tonnes of it milled), a level only 0.5 per cent below the record 2013 performance.

The largest downward revision related to Thailand, one of the world's leading rice exporters, where unseasonable dryness leading to severe constraints in water availability for irrigation took a heavy toll on secondary crop production, the April 2015 issue of the "FAO Rice Market Monitor" states.While the dreaded effects of El Nino failed to materialise, a poor monsoon affected the main and secondary crop cycles in India, another leading rice exporter, causing production prospects for the country to deteriorate further.

"Thailand's rice production (paddy) declined by 2.7 per cent in 2014 to 34.3 million tonnes (22.7 million tonnes of milled rice), due mainly to a decline of secondary crop outputs affected by cuts in planted areas," said Hiroyuki Konuma, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative for Asia and the Pacific.

"However, in 2015, Thailand is expected to increase production by 2.1 per cent," he added.The "Rice Market Monitor" predicts that, under more normal climatic conditions, this year will see a modest recovery of around one per cent in world paddy output to 750 million tonnes. "While nature was chiefly behind the lack of last season's growth, a prolonged period of falling prices also played a role.Such low prices are encouraging several governments, especially in exporting countries, to engage in less supportive production policies and to pay more attention to other considerations, such as the negative environment impacts of rice cultivation, and the heavy budgetary implications of holding bulging public stocks," said Konuma.

'Shift of emphasis' "This shift of emphasis, which translated into constant or lower official procurement prices and more stringent limits on rice cultivation, in part explains the modest pace of production growth forecast for 2015."Rice export competition for markets will intensify further in the course of the year.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Ministry keeps close eye on rice market after postponing auction on: 17 April, 2015

The Commerce Ministry is monitoring the price of rice in the world market day by day to see when it can reopen bidding this year for government stocks, since it is afraid of hurting the rice price in the local market.

NACC to file lawsuit against 20 companies involved in G2G rice scheme BANGKOK, 17 April 2015 (NNT) - The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is expected to file a lawsuit against private companies involved in the allegedly corrupt government-togovernment (G2G) rice scheme.

NACC member Vicha Mahakhun has revealed that as many as 20 companies were found to have conspired to take advantage of the G2G rice scheme.Nearly 100 companies were alleged to be involved in the former government’s rice program that sold the grains to foreign governments.The NACC is currently gathering more evidence before filing the case at the Criminal Division for Political Office Holders of the Supreme Court. Mr. Vicha said the lawsuit will be filed soon to leave enough time for the court to consider before the first hearing is open.

Sri Lankan farmers told to adapt to changing climate [COLOMBO] Experts are calling on Sri Lanka’s rice farmers to adopt flexibility in planting techniques in order to mitigate the impact of fluctuating weather patterns. ―Farmers need to think on their feet now — as rainfall patterns change and shift, planting patterns also have to adapt,‖ Ranjith Punyawardena, chief climatologist at the Department of Agriculture told SciDev.Net. The warning comes after 25 per cent of last season’s rice harvest of four million metric tons was wiped out in a 10-month drought followed by flooding. A country assessment brief released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in February placed the 2014 rice output at 3.5 million metric tons, the lowest recorded since 2010. Rice imports, which are usually negligible, rose over 20 times last year. ―The 2014 rice imports, which are normally imported in minor quantities, have been revised upwards and are now estimated at 520,000 tonnes from 22,900 tonnes in 2013,‖ FAO said. Rice prices were also high with some varieties recording 40 per cent price hikes compared to 2013, according to government estimates.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Punyawardena said that when there were indications in early 2014 that a drought was setting in, the agriculture department had advised farmers to shift from planting rice to crops like bananas, chillies and maize that were more drought resistant. ―Not many took our advice,‖ he added. That negligence led to heavy losses. Of a planted extent of around 650,000 hectares for the main season, only around 520,000 hectares were finally harvested.

Nigeria: Police Investigate Pharmacist's Death Nigeria: Air Traffic Controllers Suspend Strike

The Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Unit (CIIU), Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday said it has commenced investigation into the alleged suicide by a pharmacist, Paul Olafare.The deceased was said to have committed the act on April 12 at his residence at No. 19 Salami Street, Oworonsoki area of Lagos.The wife of the deceased, Busayo, is currently being detained at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence unit.

The mother of three, who spoke to newsmen at the CIIU, where she is being detained, said, "My husband sent me a text saying if he does not survive it that I can re-marry and that he was sorry.

He also wrote a note addressed to his family, church and his work place".The officer in charge of the command's Homicide Unit at Panti, Yaba, CSP Dan Iyamah, said police have recovered the remaining substance the deceased allegedly took before his death.

"We are sending the substance for forensic analysis to confirm if it was the cause of death. After that, a post-mortem will be carried out on the corpse," Inyamah said.He added that after investigation, if the woman is found guilty of causing the husband's death, she would be charged to court but otherwise, she would be set free

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Foodgrain stocks with FCI decline to lowest in 5 years By: Sandip Das | April 16, 2015 11:03 pm

The foodgrain stocks held with Food Corporation of India (FCI) have fallen to the lowest level in last five years, mainly because of decline in grain procurement and the corporation selling a chunk of wheat stocks in the open market.As per the latest data, FCI has grain stocks of 41.03 million tonne consisting of rice (23.7 mt) and wheat (17.2 mt) on April 1 against the prescribed buffer norms of 21.04 million tonne.However, the grain stocks have fallen by more than 45% from an all-time high of 59.75 million tonne held by FCI two years back.

In the last two years, FCI has sold more than 10 million tonne of wheat in the open market while the wheat procurement has dropped from 38.1 million tonne to 28 million tonne. Similarly, the rice purchase by FCI and state government-owned agencies have declined to 31.8 million tonne from 35 million tonne in the last two years.―We have reduced grain stock substantially yet it is far above buffer norms prescribed by the government,‖ a food ministry official said.FCI has more than 17.2 million tonne of wheat at present against the buffer norm of 7.4 million tonne. In a bid to liquidate excess stocks, for the first time this year, the government has already allowed FCI to continue with Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) beyond March 31 in non-procuring states such as Odisha.

Besides, the government has commenced sale of rice under OMSS for the first time.

The high-level committee (HLC) for FCI restructuring chaired by former food minister Shanta Kumar in its report had observed that during the last five years, on an average, ―buffer stocks with FCI have been more than double the buffer norms costing the nation thousands of crores of rupees loss without any worthwhile purpose being served‖.

HLC had stated that the current system is extremely ad-hoc, slow and costs the nation heavily. ―A transparent liquidation policy is need of the hour, which should automatically kick-in when FCI is faced with surplus stocks than buffer norms. Greater flexibility to FCI with business orientation to operate in OMSS and export markets is needed,‖ the committee had observed.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine At present, the buffer stock norms are aimed at ensuring grain supply for targeted public distribution system (TPDS), food security during the periods when production declines and stabilising prices during production shortfall through open market sales.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in January, 2015 had approved hike in norms for the foodgrain stocks held by FCI.

Monsoon to be Normal This Year, Hit Early: Skymet NDTV | Updated On: April 17, 2015 16:24 (IST) submit to redditemail Watch Full Episodes – Turn Your Computer into a TV! Watch Full TV Episodes w Free App www.televisionfanatic.com Monsoon to be Normal This Year, Hit Early: Skymet More From Economy

March Trade Deficit Hits Four-Month High Gold Imports Spike Nearly 94% to $4.98 Billion in March Finance Ministry to Meet PSU Banks on April 28 to Review Stalled Projects March Trade Deficit Widens to $11.79 Billion Indian Economy to Grow at 7.5% in 2015: Moody's Analytics India to Have More Modern, Friendly Tax Regime: Jaitley

Monsoon this year is expected to be normal despite El Nino conditions being there, Skymet Weather Services told NDTV. Rains this year are expected to hit the Kerala coast towards the end on May itself, it said.

El Nino, or a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific, can prompt drought in Southeast Asia and Australia and heavy rains in South America, hitting production of food such as rice, wheat and sugar. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has predicted 70 per cent chances of El Nino occurring in 2015.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine "I would like to mention that there have been occasions earlier also, there are quite a few occasions when even El Nino was there and the rainfall was normal and there are incidents even when the rainfall has been excess also."Monsoon this year is expected to be normal, 102 per cent of normal," GP Sharma, VP, Meteorology, Skymet Weather Services said. (Watch) The southern parts of the country are likely to receive lesser rainfall compared to central and northern India, Mr Sharma said."As per our assessment this time we find the clouds in the Arabian Sea they start forming much earlier by about (May) 27 or so or around plus minus one day of that, they will hit Kerala coast and their onset will be pretty strong and around May 27 we expect to take place over Kerala and progress further thereafter," Mr Sharma said.

American Food Aid: Flexibility and Food Security Food security

WASHINGTON, DC -- The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations met Wednesday to discuss "American Food Aid: Why Reform Matters." Witnesses at the hearing, including USAID's Director of the Office of Food for Peace Dina Esposito, all emphasized their support for in-kind food aid, but requested increased use of local and regional purchases and cash vouchers, and a need for greater flexibility in using the right tools at the right time. "USA Rice doesn't oppose a food assistance policy that provides varied solutions to hunger, but we do not support the elimination of in-kind food aid," said Jim Guinn, USA Rice's vice president of international promotion. "We support flexibility in food aid responses but believe it is more than sufficient in the 2014 Farm Bill. In fact, food aid has more than 50 percent flexibility in the current Farm Bill, up from about 20 percent in the 2008 Farm Bill."

Food aid may be distributed directly to target populations, especially in the case of emergencies, or may be sold in the targeted country with the proceeds used to support programs and activities of Private Voluntary Organizations. The sale and use of proceeds for these purposes is called "monetization." "Monetization can be a highly effective means of investing in food security, and we believe USAID already has full flexibility through their International Disaster Assistance account to use cash as needed," says Rebecca Bratter, USA Rice's food aid advisor. "The American food aid system works, and there is no need for additional reform."

The legislative battle to keep food in food assistance is likely to continue for the long term, and USA Rice, working in conjunction with other commodity groups and on Capitol Hill, will continue to prove that in-kind food aid is an essential piece of U.S. foreign policy.Guinn added, "Our farmers take great pride in providing decades-long assistance to vulnerable populations throughout the world. The use of U.S. commodities in food aid guarantees that a safe, high quality, and nutritious product is being provided to recipients, given that the U.S. food safety system is one of the strongest in the world."

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine Contact: Sarah Moran (703) 236-1457

USA Rice Staff Visits The Russell Marine Group, Eurofins NEW ORLEANS, LA -- USA Rice President & CEO Betsy Ward and Member Services staff visited The Russell Marine Group and Eurofins new facilities this week.Ward said, "I want to thank Pat Russell from The Russell Marine Group and Frank Spiegelhalter from Eurofins and their teams for their hospitality.

We appreciated the opportunity to talk about activities at the upcoming USA Rice Outlook Conference."

From left: Betsy Ward, The Russell Marine Group's Larry Vanderbrook, and USA Rice's Randy

Jemison.USA Rice's Trish Alderson (l) and Jeanette Davis enjoy the boat ride.

Loaded up and ready to ride the Mississippi River.

Betsy Ward and Amy Doane discuss nutrition and heavy metal testing with Vickie Siegel and Randy Roebuck from Eurofins.

CME Group/Closing Rough Rice Futures CME Group (Prelim): Closing Rough Rice Futures for April 17.

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine

Month

Price

Net Change

May 2015

$9.905

- $0.060

July 2015

$10.160

- $0.050

September 2015

$10.420

- $0.045

$10.650

- $0.040

January 2016

$10.880

- $0.040

March 2016

$10.930

- $0.040

May 2016

$10.930

- $0.040

From PoliticoPro

By Bill Tomson

U.S. WAITS ON CHINA RESPONSE TO RICE TRADE PROPOSAL: China is now reviewing the USDA's latest proposal for a phytosanitary agreement that would allow the two countries to sell rice to each other, a development that the U.S. rice sector believes would open up a new and lucrative market in one of the world's largest importers.

U.S. industry and government officials told POLITICO they hope the latest protocol sent to China placates all of the country's concerns, including the latest fear that U.S. shipments might be infested with the Khapra beetle, a bug that's considered one of the world's most damaging pests when it comes to grain. The U.S. does not have a Khapra infestation problem and U.S. government and industry sources say they hope the latest submission to China will convince the country.

The U.S. rice industry and USDA have been working for years to open up the Chinese market to U.S. rice since China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and promised to eventually buy U.S. rice. China bought about 4 million tons of rice last year, according to USDA data, up

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine from about 3 million tons the year before.

Organic food Have your fill MENAFN - Khaleej Times - 15/04/2015

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) While a relatively new concept it is fast making its way to more

people and plates Dubai — Organic food is gaining ground across the world and the Amira Group is ready to cash in on its popularity by increasing the company’s product range in Middle East and Gulf markets its top official says.Karan A. Chanana chairman of the group said the Amira brand enjoys a strong presence across the GCCl and considers the UAE Qatar and Bahrain as potential growth markets in the region.―Organic packed food is a relatively new concept; however it is a growing category in the Middle East markets. With such strong growth potential we are planning to launch our range of organic food across the region in the next few months‖ he told Khaleej Times on the sidelines of an event in Dubai.The Amira Group which has a significant market presence in over 60 countries is ready to expand its presence in the region. It has strong distributor’s network with offices in Germany India Malaysia Nigeria Singapore the United Kingdom the United States and the UAE.―Our initial focus in the first year will be distribution and brand building before we look at launching the organic range in other GCC countries‖ the chairman said.―We are also working towards expanding Amira’s brand presence to new territories in the Middle East‖ he added.

Chanana has been instrumental in turning the company from a family-run operation with a turnover of 50 million into a professionally-managed global business with a turnover of 550 million. The company has consistently maintained top-line growth of 25 per cent for the past three years and made their initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012 becoming the first majority family-owned Indian business to list on the exchange.

At a glance •The Amira Group has a significant market presence in over 60 countries and is ready to expand its presence in the Middle East.

•Its chairman Karan A. Chanana was instrumental in turning a company from a family-run 50 million operation into a global business with a 550 million turnover.

• The company made its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in 2012 becoming the first

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine majority family-owned Indian business to list on the exchange. ―Our current product range currently consists of various varieties of basmati including traditional basmati extra-long grain long-grain and brown basmati rice. We are also developing a new range of organic products including rice spices pulses RTE chocolates and a range of Amira-branded organic snacks‖ he said.To a question Chanana said 2014 was an incredibly positive year for the Amira Group.―We significantly expanded our activities in developed markets such as the US the UK and Continental Europe.About the outlook for 2015 he said it is promising to be even more positive in terms of market growth and international expansion. ―A considerable amount of our focus will be upon entering new markets in the Middle East. In particular we will be expanding to Iran and Saudi Arabia two of the region’s biggest markets‖ Chanana said.About the region’s premier food exhibition — Gulfood — he said the show is always an incredibly important date in the Amira calendar.―Gulfood is one of the world’s largest food trade shows with recent shows featuring over 4500 companies providing us with a myriad of excellent opportunities to establish new relationships and continue to nurture our existing ones. ―Additionally Gulfood is seen globally as a benchmark in the global food industry. Therefore it is an integral platform for us to establish and consolidate brand awareness for the Amira Group particularly in the Middle East which is an incredibly important market to us‖ he said.To a question he said Dubai is integral to the activities of the Amira Group.―It is also our global headquartered. We have longed recognised the strategic importance of Dubai as a hub for any food company; not only is it the culinary epicentre of the Middle East but it is also rapidly making a name for itself a leading destination for foodies. Dubai will remain to the Amira Group for the foreseeable future‖ Chanana concluded.

Arsenic in your food? Scared? Shouldn’t be, but if so there’s a GMO fix Jon Entine | April 16, 2015 | Genetic Literacy Project

A lawsuit filed last month in Los Angeles County claimed that some California wines tested for higher-than-allowable levels of inorganic arsenic. Among the defendants: Trader Joe’s, which sells some of the wines, and about two dozen California wineries, including Beringer, Fetzer and Sutter Home. The suit maintainedthat the wine contained ―health risks‖ and that the wineries and the stores that sold the wines were ―secretly poisoning wine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine consumers in direct violation of California law.‖ Is there any basis for those fears? After all, celebrity ―experts‖ like Dr. Oz have run alarmist shows about it.

Arsenic is prevalent in the natural environment in air, soil and water, and in food, and is generally not considered a health risk despite the claims by Dr. Oz and other professional fear mongers. Predictably it shows up in dairy products, grains, meat and fish. Arsenic exists in two forms: organic and inorganic. In the former, the arsenic is part of a carbon-containing compound, which renders it almost harmless.It is the inorganic form that is slightly toxic–but at very high levels of consumption, and otherwise perfectly harmless despite what you might read on the Internet. At chronic levels of exposure–unrealistic doses hundreds or thousands of times higher than normal human exposure–animals exposed to inorganic arsenic at levels far higher than humans would ever be exposed to were linked to lung and bladder cancers, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The biggest hue and cry has focused on arsenic levels in grains. Rice in particular absorbs it better than many other plants. There are a few–very few–regions where rice absorbs enough inorganic arsenic soaked in groundwater that humans face similar documented health symptoms.

In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration released data confirming that rice and rice products can have elevated levels of arsenic. ―All of the data suggest levels that are not high enough to give us cause for concern for immediate or near-term effects,‖ FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg saidwhen it issued its original report. FDA maintains a website separating the dangerous Oz-perpetrated myths from from the facts.But the overwhelming evidence that humans are not in harms way did not stop Consumer Reports from hyping those findings then– and again recently. CR issued its own report in 2012, challenging the FDA and greatly exaggerating the health risks. After sampling 60 different rice products, including cold breakfast cereals, infant rice cereal, rice milk, and brown rice, CR found that most contained some amount of inorganic arsenic–which would be expected as rice absorbs arsenic so well. CR recommended limited intake of rice products: no more than one serving of infant rice cereal per day, and adults should stop at two servings of rice per week.

The group also called on regulators to ban pesticides and arsenic-containing drugs used in livestock and crop production, which they say contributes to the elevated levels of the element found in foods. Currently, the federal limit for arsenic in drinking water is set at 10 parts per billion (ppb), equivalent to one microgram (one millionth of a gram) dissolved in one liter of water.

Consumer Reports has not backed away from its chemophobic-based campaign. Last fall it released its own guidelines, contending that rice ―can have much more inorganic arsenic … than our 2012 data showed,‖ suggesting that it is only safe for adults to have 4½ servings of rice per week, and for children to have 2¾ servings. This does not apply to our apple juice, or rice milk, which contain much less. So, at best, this is a minimal or even theoretical risk, yet it is again all over the news.The very limited dangers that might exist from arsenic in staples like rice www.ricepluss.com R&D Section: Riceplus Magazine

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Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine are addressable–by limiting consumption. But that’s not always possible in countries heavily dependent on a rice diet. Now there’s another possible solution: genetic engineering–iif opponents do not scuttle the research.

Scientists in Japan and Korea have identified a protein in some varieties of rice that helps the plant sequester arsenic away from the grain – the part we eat. They are hoping to genetically engineer the mutation responsible for this protein into all cultivated rice plants to reduce our intake of arsenic.States in the southeast United States – like Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas – have higher levels of arsenic in their rice than that grown elsewhere. This is a byproduct of the cotton and tobacco industries: when these crops were grown in these areas, they were treated with an insecticide that contained arsenic. The insecticide has not been in use since the 1980s, but it lingers in the groundwater.

And it’s not only white rice: ironically, brown rice, touted by foodies, is 80 percent higher in arsenic than white rice. Ironic because brown rice is generally healthier than white because it retains the nutrient rich outer husk and bran that is shed in the making of white rice, but it is in these outer layers that arsenic builds up. Organic rice also contains arsenic and often at higher levels than their conventional counterparts, because it are often sweetened with brown rice syrup which is erroneously perceived as healthier than sugar. This was found to be the case for baby formula.

According to the FDA, the levels of arsenic currently present in rice only pose a very limited potential risk to populations that rely heavily on rice as a food source–Asians, Southeast Asians, Hispanics, and people on a gluten free diet(most gluten-free items are made primarily from rice flour)–and only in the few areas where inorganic concentrations are high. In other words, arsenic in food is not a serious health hazard, as CR claims, and no restrictions are warranted except in very extreme cases.

The researchers intend to follow up on their initial findings in three ways: they will look for rice strains that naturally produce high levels of this protein, so they can breed it with more mainstream varieties; they will use genetic modification to increase the levels of this protein in rice to see if they can get arsenic levels in the grains even lower; and they will look for similar proteins that can possibly combined with this one to get arsenic levels lower still.―Because the rice grain is the major source of arsenic intake, reducing the transfer of arsenic from soil to the grain is a pressing public health issue,‖ write the researchers in their new paper. ―Our work suggests a strategy for limiting arsenic accumulation in rice grains and thereby reducing human arsenic exposure.‖Their work also suggests the potential of genetic engineering and genetically informed breeding practices to correct for the agricultural oversights of the past.

Jon Entine, executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, is a Senior Fellow at the World Food Center, Institute for Food and Agricultural Literacy, University of California-Davis.

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